Remember coins? You know, the copper and silver stuff we all used before almost everywhere seemed to go cashless? Well, next time you get your hands on a piece, it might look a little different to what you remember. That’s because the Royal Mint has just unveiled eight new coin designs set to enter circulation soon.
From 1p to £2, eight British coins are getting a makeover inspired by King Charles III’s famous passion for the environment and Britain’s array of flora and fauna. It marks the final phase of Charlie’s transition onto our money, replacing Queen Elizabeth’s designs from 2008, which made up a shield.
The designs include a puffin, the endangered red squirrel, bees and a combination of the four national flowers. Each coin is unified through a pattern featuring three interlocking Cs. On the £2 coin there’s an extra inscription that reads: ‘In Servito Omnium’, which is Latin for ‘In the service of all’.
The designs have been officially approved by King Charles and are currently available to buy as commemorative coins before they enter circulation from 2024.
Here’s a breakdown of the designs on each coin:
1p: Hazel dormouse
2p: Red squirrel
5p: Oak tree leaf
10p: Capercaillie
20p: Puffin
50p: Atlantic salmon
£1: Bees
£2: National flowers (rose, daffodil, thistle and shamrock)
Time Out’s take
Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, you only have to look back at our coverage of Chazza’s coronation earlier this year to see that the royal family is a major part of Britain’s DNA. And if you don’t want to be reminded of their existence every time you shop, simply stick to contactless!
And if you’d rather see all the featured flora and fauna IRL, check out our list of the best places to spot cute, rare and wonderful wildlife in the UK.
ICYMI: this new interactive map shows the UK’s cheapest Wetherspoons.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.